Cooper Walls, a right‑handed pitcher who arrived in Gainesville as the 2025 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, has decided to test the transfer portal after just one season with the Florida Gators.
His debut was promising, a five‑and‑one‑third outing against UAB in which he yielded just one run, but the momentum faded as the schedule progressed.
By the end of the year his earned‑run average had ballooned to 7.17, and in the regional final against Troy he lasted only a single inning before being pulled.
The ripple effect across the pitching staff
The exodus was not limited to Walls; fellow arms McCall Biemiller, Matthew Jenkins, Cooper Moss and Christian Rodriguez also entered the portal, joining a growing wave of pitchers seeking new programs.
Position players Kolt Myers and Blake Brookins have also signaled their intent to explore new opportunities, underscoring a broader reshaping of the roster.
Amid the churn, the Gators secured a commitment from Jon Embury, the 2026 ASUN Player of the Year and former FGCU catcher, who will bring his bat and defensive skill to the next chapter.